20 Most Influential, Important, and Famous Romans

1. Marcus Licinius Crassus

Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who played a key role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He was born in the roman republic and died in 53 BC in Harran, Turkey. 

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Before reaching his political and military career, Crassus was a successful businessman. He was a very rich man and greatly influenced the Roman Senate. He made several alliances with other wealthy men to help fund his campaigns. In addition, he knew how to use money and accomplices to get what he wanted.

Achievements of Marcus Licinius Crassus

• was able to conquer the central Mediterranean.

• In 83BC, he was elected consul, a position that made him the senior of the two chief executives in the Roman republic. He ended the Catiline conspiracy by achieving its goal of overthrowing Rome’s government and killing Cicero, a prominent orator.

• In 71 BC, he became governor of Syria and defeated Spartacus in a major battle.

• Crassus and Julius Caesar, Pompey Magnus, and others were known as the first Triumvirate. Triumvirate refers to a group of three men in charge of Rome’s republican government. This period was known as the transform time. The period when Rome changed from a republic to an empire with one leader. After Crassus’s death, his son Publius continued his father’s legacy.

2. Remus

Remus was the brother of Romulus; they were born around 750 BC. The twins were abandoned by their parents while they were still very young. The babies were discovered by a wolf who raised them as her own. When they reached 15, they decided to build their city. They argued about what would be the city’s capital; Romulus wanted it to be on Palatine Hill, while Remus preferred it to be on Aventine Hill. Remus disagreed with his brother and decided to leave Rome. Romulus’ army killed him after he left Rome. Three days later, Romulus became king of Rome.

Achievements of Remus

• He was the founder of Remurio (Rome)

• He founded the most memorable guild of Rome, The Lupercale.

• Areopagus, one of the Roman Senate.

3. Allia Potestas

Allia Potestas was a woman who lived in the Roman Republic between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Allia came to be discovered through her epitaph on a marble tablet in Via Pinciana in Rome. The epitaph was a poem written by her lover. The poet divided the poem into three sections: the first part focuses on Allias virtues, the second describes her erotic side, she had two lovers, and in the last part, the author laments over her death. 

Allia was unique because she did not conform to the virtues women in Rome had at that time. A woman was expected to be a one-man woman, whereas she had two. 

4. Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a Roman general, politician, and famous historian. He was born in Rome in 100BC and died in 44 BC due to assassination. He was the first Triumvirate and led the Roman army, where they defeated Pompey. He was a well-known dictator in Rome from 49 BC until his assassination. He was known to be a very smart man and had a lot of ambition. 

Achievements of Julius Caesar

• He was the first Roman general to cross the Rubicon in 49BC; this action marked the beginning of Caesar’s civil war with Pompey.

• Caesar had many powerful friends and allies who contributed to his campaigns throughout his political career. These included Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus.

• He was the major victor of the Gallic Wars, which lasted from 52BC to 50BC and marked the beginning of Rome’s expansion into northern Gaul.

5. Mark Antony

Mark Antony was an important Roman general, politician, and a prominent figure in the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. He was born in 83 BC and died in 30 BC. Mark Antony was a great political leader who played many roles during his time as a politician.

He started as a military commander and remained in that position for most of his life. Through his political career, he became one of the best-known people alive at the time because of his impressive army and wealth.

Achievements of Mark Antony

• He served as the Optimates (Senate) leader, city prefect, consul, and censor. 

• He was a Triumvir in 36 BC; he took care of the eastern provinces while Octavian focused on Spain. 

• He was a prominent orator, and one of his great speeches remains in the Spanish language today.

6. Antinous

Antinous was a young man from the Roman Empire; he was born in 110 AD and died in 130 AD. He was the favorite of EmperorEmperor Hadrian. The EmperorEmperor loved Antinous so much that he decided to make him a consul, which made him the first openly gay person to be appointed as a consul in Roman history. Antinous’ death greatly affected Hadrian, who had his lover deified. His achievements are:

• He was a consul and the first openly gay person to become a consul in Roman history.

• He became the favorite of EmperorEmperor Hadrian, who had him deified after his death.

7. Cleopatra

Cleopatra was a famous Queen of Egypt and a Greek Macedonian princess who ruled over the Ptolemaic kingdom. She ruled Egypt from 51 BC until 30 BC. Cleopatra married her brother, the future Ptolemy I, and fathered three children with him. 

Achievements of Cleopatra

• Ruled Egypt for most of her adult life  

• She is remembered as one of antiquity’s most famous rulers. Many of the monuments she built can still be seen in Egypt today.

8. Augustus

Augustus was an Emperor who lived in the Roman Empire. He was born in 63 BC and died in 14 AD. Augustus is known to be the founder of the Roman Empire; he was also one of the wealthiest people ever to live. He has been referred to as the greatest EmperorEmperor who ever lived and is considered a god by some religions today.

Achievements of Augustus

• He became EmperorEmperor in 27BC, and he ruled until he died in 14AD.

• He was a military commander, and one of his most famous generals was Mark Anthony.

• Augustus wrote several books on various subjects and has been quoted in more than 70 works.

9. Publius Ovidius Naso

Publius Ovidius Naso lived in Rome during the time of Emperor Augustus. He was born in 43BC and died in 17 AD. He was a poet and wrote many great books which are still relevant today. His greatest work is known as Metamorphoses. It consists of 10 books it tells stories about love, nature, and life.

Achievements of Publius Ovidius Naso

• He is considered to be one of the top ten Roman poets. 

• Ovid was one of the first to use a clear form of poetry. He used short signs, followed by a long verse related to the short signs.

10. Tiberius

Tiberius was a Roman general and EmperorEmperor who is said to have governed well. He was born in 42 BC; he died in 37 AD. Tiberius came to power after Augustus died. He started as a great leader, but over the years, he became less interested in his job, which caused the empire to decline greatly.

Achievements of Tiberius

• He was appointed heir of Augustus; he took power after his death in 14AD until 37AD when Caligula took over.

• Tiberius was a military commander who traveled with the Roman army to many provinces.

• He was a great leader until he became less interested in his job as Emperor when his empire started to decline.

11. Caligula

Caligula lived in the Roman Empire during the time of Tiberius. He was born in 12AD; he died in 41 AD. Caligula came to power after Tiberius died; he served as an emperor from 37 AD until 41 AD, when he died. He was known to have a chaotic personality, and his cruelty caused chaos in the empire. He is considered one of the most evil kings in Roman history.

Achievements of Caligula

• He was a famous emperor, and one of his most notable actions included the assassination of his uncle.

• Caligula became EmperorEmperor at the age of 18. At this time, he was known to have a volatile personality with cruelty.

12. Claudius

Claudius lived in the Roman Empire when Tiberius died. He was born in 10 BC; he died in 54 AD. Claudius came to power after Caligula was assassinated. He served as EmperorEmperor from 41 AD until 54 AD, when he died. Claudius is mostly known for his short temper and inability to make decisions, which greatly affected the empire.

Achievements of Claudius

• He was a poet who wrote some great lines which are still relevant today.

• He was a military commander who left the empire in a bad state when he died.

13. Regina (“Queenie”)

Regina was a Roman woman known as a poet, writer, and historian. She lived during the time of the Roman Empire. Regina was born in 29 AD and died in 52 AD. She wrote many great books which are still relevant today about love and life in general. Her greatest work is known as Liber amoris. It consists of two books; one book is about love and one book is about women’s rights.

Achievements of Regina

• She was a poet and writer who wrote some great books which are still relevant today.

• She is considered one of the best female Roman writers. She has been quoted in more than 130 works.

14. Vespasian

Vespasian was an emperor who lived in the Roman Empire during the time of Caligula. He was born in 9AD; he died in 79 AD. Vespasian came to power after Caligula was assassinated; he served as an emperor from 69 AD until 79 AD, when he died. Vespasian is mostly known for his military career; he served as a general for over 20 years and gained many victories.

Achievements of Vespasian

• He was a military commander who fought for more than 20 years and gained many victories, and his fellow commanders offered him the title of EmperorEmperor.

• He came to power when Rome’s economy was in ruins, which made him a great leader.

15. Titus

Titus was an emperor who ruled the Roman Empire during the Vespasian reign. He was born in 39 AD; he died in 81 AD. Titus served as an emperor from 79 AD until 81 AD, when he died. Titus is mostly known for his great military career; he also served as a general for over 20 years and gained many victories.

Achievements of Titus

• He was a military commander who served for more than 20 years and gained many victories.

16. Domitian

Domitian was an emperor who lived in the Roman Empire when Titus was EmperorEmperor. He was born in 51 AD; he died in 96 AD. Domitian served as an emperor from 81 AD until 96 AD, when he died. Domitian is mostly known for his brutality and cruelty, which caused chaos in the empire.

Achievements of Domitian

• He was a great leader at first, but he became increasingly obsessed with power, which caused chaos in the empire.

• He started as a great leader but became increasingly obsessed with power. This caused him to be very cruel, which is what the empire was expecting.

17. Diocletian

Diocletian was an emperor who lived in the Roman Empire during the times of Domitian. He was born in 244 AD; he died in 313 AD. Diocletian served as an emperor from 284 AD until 305 AD, when he retired. Diocletian is mostly known for his stabilizing act on the empire and for splitting it into two parts which caused the great decline.

Achievements of Diocletian

• He was a great leader who stabilized the empire when it needed to be stabilized.

• He split the empire into two parts which was a very good idea.

18. Constantine

Constantine was an emperor who ruled the Roman Empire during Diocletian’s reign. He was born in 272 AD; he died in 337 AD. Constantine served as an emperor from 306 AD until 337 AD, when he resigned. Constantine is mostly known for building the holy city of Byzantium and introducing Christianity to the empire, which caused a great decline.

Achievements of Constantine

• He was a great leader who built the holy city of Byzantium.

• He introduced Christianity to the empire, which caused a great decline is their economy.

19. Appius Claudius Caecus

Appius Claudius Caecus was an emperor who lived during the Roman Empire. He was born in 340 BC; he died in 273 BC. Appius Claudius Caecus served as an emperor from 296 BC until 268 BC, when the Senate assassinated him. He is mostly known for his political achievements; he served as a consul and censor and introduced many laws which are still relevant today.

Achievements of Appius Claudius Caecus

• He was a great leader who improved the Roman military structure.

• He introduced many laws which are still relevant today.

20. Apollodorus of Damascus

Apollodorus of Damascus was an architect and engineer from Damascus. He flourished in the 2nd century BC; he died in 88 AD. Apollodorus is most known for his great architectural work. One of his most notable buildings was the renovation of the temple of Athena Nike and construction of the temple of Zeus at Nemea.

Achievements of Apollodorus

• He was a great architect who had many great works.

• He is considered one of the greatest architects and engineers, with many buildings still standing today.

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